CNN
US cable news network based in Atlanta, owned by Skydance
CNN (Cable News Network) is an American news network founded by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld. It launched on 1 June 1980 and is headquartered in Atlanta. Time Warner acquired its parent, Turner Broadcasting System, in 1996; Time Warner later became WarnerMedia, which merged with Discovery to form Warner Bros. Discovery.Sources:1Wikipedia: CNN, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on 6 October 2026, and the combined company was renamed Skydance. A settlement with US states included safeguards for the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News.Sources:2Wikipedia: Warner Bros. Discovery, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)3Wikipedia: Skydance, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
Who it favours
We have not analysed CNN's coverage yet. When we do, this shows which side its articles favoured, story by story.
Who controls it
Whoever owns an outlet, provides most of its money or directs it controls it. Our rule.
No government, party or politician is documented as its owner, main funder or director.
Our reading
Editorial assessment by Connect the Dots from 3 stories this outlet covered between 17 Oct 2026 and 20 Oct 2026; updated 24 Oct 2026. Every observation links to the articles it is based on.
In its two France stories CNN led with the government's response, quoted protesters by name alongside officials and reported criticism of the police; neither mentioned the Palestinian flags other outlets reported.
- Its 17 October story, later rewritten around Macron's address, quoted his description of "seditious elements from far-left factions, joined by numerous delinquents" and also Jean-Luc Mélenchon's post that most demonstrators were peaceful. Sources:5CNN: France's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' during major protests, CNN, 17 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- It gave the Interior Ministry's count of 550,000 protesters, added that organizers said far more turned out, and quoted protesters by first name on wealth and democracy. Sources:5CNN: France's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' during major protests, CNN, 17 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- It reported scrutiny of the police response, including a 14-year-old with a fractured jaw and a banned headlock on a girl, and carried a correction saying a police officer's death in Nantes was unrelated to the rioting. Sources:5CNN: France's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' during major protests, CNN, 17 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Its 19 October story quoted the Interior Minister blaming "a certain political camp", Marine Le Pen blaming the far left and JD Vance blaming immigration policy. Neither CNN story mentioned the Palestinian flags reported by The Media Line and JTA. Sources:5CNN: France's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' during major protests, CNN, 17 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)6CNN: France promises 'massive' police presence this weekend as cities impose more curfews after protest violence, CNN, 19 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Owners, funders and directors
- OwnerCNN WorldwideParent division Sources:1Wikipedia: CNN, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- OwnerSkydance CorporationParent company (formerly Paramount Skydance) since it bought Warner Bros. Discovery on 6 October 2026; the Ellison family holds 47.2% of shares and 77.5% of voting control Sources:2Wikipedia: Warner Bros. Discovery, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)3Wikipedia: Skydance, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- OwnerLarry EllisonLargest owner of Skydance through his family trust Sources:3Wikipedia: Skydance, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)7Wikipedia: Larry Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Republican Party: Gave at least $4 million to Conservative Solutions PAC, a super PAC backing Marco Rubio's Republican presidential bid (2016) Sources:Wikipedia: Larry Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Republican Party: Donated $15 million to Opportunity Matters Fund, a super PAC linked to Republican senator Tim Scott (2022) Sources:Wikipedia: Larry Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Republican Party: Let Donald Trump hold a campaign fundraiser at his Rancho Mirage estate; he was not present (2020) Sources:Wikipedia: Larry Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Government of the United States: Appointed by President Trump to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2026) Sources:FedScoop: Trump taps Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison for science, tech advisory panel, FedScoop, 25 March 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- DirectorDavid EllisonChairman and CEO of Skydance Sources:3Wikipedia: Skydance, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)8Wikipedia: David Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Democratic Party: Donated $929,600 to Joe Biden's 2024 re-election campaign Sources:Wikipedia: David Ellison, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- DirectorMark ThompsonChairman and CEO of CNN since October 2023; reports to Skydance's co-CEOs Sources:3Wikipedia: Skydance, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)9Wikipedia: Mark Thompson (media executive), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
As documented, nearest first. Each note says what the source supports.
How we use it
3 stories cite CNN directly, and 1 more through other outlets that carried its reporting.
- Policing and protest 3
- Cost of living 2
- Youth protests 2026 1
- Palestine solidarity 1
- Cybersecurity 1
- Artificial intelligence 1
October 2026
- AI-found PHP2Shell flaws push governments and companies to take websites offlineTwo critical PHP flaws found with AI help led governments, banks and Wikipedia to pull sites offline while attackers began probing unpatched servers.
- France to deploy troops to support police before 24 October protestsSoldiers will free up police for crowd control as a new day of protest is called.
- Curfews imposed in Paris, Lyon and other citiesParts of Paris and Lyon went under overnight curfew; more than 2,500 people were in custody.
- Half a million join youth-led cost-of-living protests across FranceStudents, unions and yellow-vest groups marched over living costs and fuel prices; dozens were detained in Paris.
Outside left–right raters
For comparison only. Western raters place outlets on a left–right line, which says nothing about whom they favour in a given story or who funds them; our own tally is above.
AllSides: Lean Left (checked 24 Oct 2026) · Ad Fontes Media: Skews Left (checked 24 Oct 2026) · Media Bias/Fact Check: Left-Center (checked 24 Oct 2026)
Sources
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